Dec 30, 2022
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Chateau St. Jean Winery & Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Treasure Wine Estates |
| Web site | www.chateaustjean.com |
| Link to this site |
Founded in 1973 in the town of Kenwood in the Sonoma Valley, Chateau St. Jean has a reputation for excellence in the wine industry. Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren as been at Chateau St. Jean 37 years in 2018. The first Pinot Noir was produced in 1980.
The winery currently crafts a Sonoma County Reserve Pinot Noir as well as vineyard designates from Durell Vineyard, La Petite Etoile Vineyard, Benoist. Annual production is 500,000+ cases of many varieties.
The tasting room and visitor center offer charcuterie for picnicking on the beautiful grounds graced by gardens, fountains and a large patio. Open daily 10:00 - 5:00.
Articles About Chateau St. Jean Winery & Vineyards
Reviewed Wines
2016 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Belle Terre Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay
14.4% alc., $35. The winery has made wine from this vineyard since the 1970s.
·
Moderate light
golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon, pear and riverbed. Really nice harmony in a
flavorful style with dancing acidity. Citrus, honey and nutmeg are the main tastes with oak way in the
background. Very inviting, with a brightness and purity that elevates this wine that also sports a
quenching and haunting finish.
Score: 94.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Cold Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.5% alc., $35. Release March 2017. Barrel fermented, aged 9 months in small French oak barrels, 15% new. !00% malolactic fermentation.
·
Light golden yellow color in the glass. Fresh aromas of lemon, melon and a steely,
metallic tone. Bright flavors of lemon-lime and pear matched with a brisk acid spice and minimal
oak input. More discreetly fruity and austere in demeanor.
Score: 90.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.2%, pH 3.67, TA 0.63,
alc., $35. Harvest Brix 24.3º. Clones 5 and 15. Barrel fermented, complete malolactic fermentation, aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 45% new.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The aromatic profile appeals, offering scents
of lemon, pineapple, butter, flint and toasty oak. Richly styled with lemon, yellow peach and
pineapple flavors as well as spice. There is enough acidity to balance the robust fruit sap and the
fruit-driven finish shows length. This is a wine for fans who like a Chardonnay awash in fruit along
with boisterous oak engagement.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Robert Young Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay
14.5%
alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.63, $35. Vineyard is planted to the Robert Young clone, a selection derived from original plantings of the
Wente clone and certified in 1989. Barrel fermented and aged on the lees 15 months in French oak barrels, 17% new,
then given extended bottle age before release.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Sexy nose of
lemon oil, pineapple and pear perfume. Discreetly rich in character, with tantalizing flavors of lemon, baked
pear, spice and toast. A thread of oak holds court through the finish that shows a bit of alcoholic heat.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Sonoma County Chardonnay
14.4% alc., $65. Winemaker Margo Van
Staaveren’s signature is on the heavy, embossed bottle. 54%
Robert Young, 26% Cold Creek, 12% Durell and 8% Belle
Terre vineyards. Each lot fermented separately. Aged on the
lees for 18 months in French oak barrels. A barrel selection
for the final blend.
·
Moderate golden yellow. A classy wine by
all definition that is highly nuanced and intriguing. Aromas and flavors
of lemon oil, lemon meringue, spice, ripe pear and banana with a dash
of oak. Enough fruit to satisfy, but gracious acid (read “mineralitydriven”)
is the soul of this wine. The lemon creme finish has uncommon
staying power. Still terrific when tasted the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle. The winemaker’s best effort
and it shows.
Score: 96.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $70. Sourced from Hallberg Vineyard.
Clones 777, 115 and “828.” 3-day cold soak, aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 70% new and aged an
additional six months before release.
·
Dark garnet color in the glass. Muted aromas of black fruits, anise, dark
toast and cigar. Ripe, bold and rich, with mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, root beer
and spice with an earthy undertone. Oak is well-integrated and the tannic backbone matches up well to the
sappy fruit. Nicely balanced and well crafted in this ripe-fruited, hedonistic style, but not my cup of tea.
Score: 88.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Le Seul Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.6% alc., pH 3.36, TA 0.64, $75. Sourced from Gap’s Crown Vineyard. Harvest Brix 25.7º. Dijon clones 548 and 124. Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented on the lees in small French oak barrels for 17 months, 69% new.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Soaring aromas of lemon
curd, brown butter, ripe pear, toast and roasted nuts. Amazing attack of lemon, pear, white peach,
pineapple, spice and creme brȗlée flavors that are bolstered by complimentary oak. There is a hint
of fleur de sel. The slightest tannin peaks out and the energetic acidity invigorates the fruit. A serious
effort that has the pedal to the metal with the alcohol adding fortitude to the wine. Even better when
sampled the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 94.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Le Seul Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $75. Sourced from Gap’s Crown and Sun
Chase vineyards, both located in the Petaluma Gap AVA.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely aromas of black
cherry, blueberry-pomegranate, cardamom spice and fertile
earth. Highly engaging on the palate, with a mid weight core
of primarily black cherry goodness. A subtle spice, floral and
vanilla accent add interest. Impeccable balance with well-matched
tannins and easy approachability. Even better when tasted the
following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 94.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2014 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $70. Heavy bottled, embossed and
signed by the winemaker. A selection of the most intensely flavored barrels. 100% Clone 777. Aged 17 months
in French oak barrels, 39% new, and an additional 7 months in bottle before release. Bottled unfined.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. The toasty oak on the nose obscures the fruit aromas. Approachable
flavors of oak-infused majestic dark fruits including black cherry with added notes of anise and black tea. Very
seductive, silken mouth feel with tame tannins and a modest but pleasing finish. There is a paucity of nuance
and sophistication and a bit more barrel treatment than I prefer.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2016 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Belle Terre Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay
14.4% alc., $35. The winery has made wine from this vineyard since the 1970s. · Moderate light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon, pear and riverbed. Really nice harmony in a flavorful style with dancing acidity. Citrus, honey and nutmeg are the main tastes with oak way in the background. Very inviting, with a brightness and purity that elevates this wine that also sports a quenching and haunting finish. Score: 94. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Cold Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.5% alc., $35. Release March 2017. Barrel fermented, aged 9 months in small French oak barrels, 15% new. !00% malolactic fermentation. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. Fresh aromas of lemon, melon and a steely, metallic tone. Bright flavors of lemon-lime and pear matched with a brisk acid spice and minimal oak input. More discreetly fruity and austere in demeanor. Score: 90. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.2%, pH 3.67, TA 0.63, alc., $35. Harvest Brix 24.3º. Clones 5 and 15. Barrel fermented, complete malolactic fermentation, aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 45% new. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The aromatic profile appeals, offering scents of lemon, pineapple, butter, flint and toasty oak. Richly styled with lemon, yellow peach and pineapple flavors as well as spice. There is enough acidity to balance the robust fruit sap and the fruit-driven finish shows length. This is a wine for fans who like a Chardonnay awash in fruit along with boisterous oak engagement. Score: 92. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Single Vineyard Robert Young Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.63, $35. Vineyard is planted to the Robert Young clone, a selection derived from original plantings of the Wente clone and certified in 1989. Barrel fermented and aged on the lees 15 months in French oak barrels, 17% new, then given extended bottle age before release. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Sexy nose of lemon oil, pineapple and pear perfume. Discreetly rich in character, with tantalizing flavors of lemon, baked pear, spice and toast. A thread of oak holds court through the finish that shows a bit of alcoholic heat. Score: 92. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Sonoma County Chardonnay
14.4% alc., $65. Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren’s signature is on the heavy, embossed bottle. 54% Robert Young, 26% Cold Creek, 12% Durell and 8% Belle Terre vineyards. Each lot fermented separately. Aged on the lees for 18 months in French oak barrels. A barrel selection for the final blend. · Moderate golden yellow. A classy wine by all definition that is highly nuanced and intriguing. Aromas and flavors of lemon oil, lemon meringue, spice, ripe pear and banana with a dash of oak. Enough fruit to satisfy, but gracious acid (read “mineralitydriven”) is the soul of this wine. The lemon creme finish has uncommon staying power. Still terrific when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. The winemaker’s best effort and it shows. Score: 96. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $70. Sourced from Hallberg Vineyard. Clones 777, 115 and “828.” 3-day cold soak, aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 70% new and aged an additional six months before release. · Dark garnet color in the glass. Muted aromas of black fruits, anise, dark toast and cigar. Ripe, bold and rich, with mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, root beer and spice with an earthy undertone. Oak is well-integrated and the tannic backbone matches up well to the sappy fruit. Nicely balanced and well crafted in this ripe-fruited, hedonistic style, but not my cup of tea. Score: 88. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Le Seul Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
14.6% alc., pH 3.36, TA 0.64, $75. Sourced from Gap’s Crown Vineyard. Harvest Brix 25.7º. Dijon clones 548 and 124. Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented on the lees in small French oak barrels for 17 months, 69% new. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Soaring aromas of lemon curd, brown butter, ripe pear, toast and roasted nuts. Amazing attack of lemon, pear, white peach, pineapple, spice and creme brȗlée flavors that are bolstered by complimentary oak. There is a hint of fleur de sel. The slightest tannin peaks out and the energetic acidity invigorates the fruit. A serious effort that has the pedal to the metal with the alcohol adding fortitude to the wine. Even better when sampled the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 94. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Chateau St. Jean Le Seul Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $75. Sourced from Gap’s Crown and Sun Chase vineyards, both located in the Petaluma Gap AVA. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely aromas of black cherry, blueberry-pomegranate, cardamom spice and fertile earth. Highly engaging on the palate, with a mid weight core of primarily black cherry goodness. A subtle spice, floral and vanilla accent add interest. Impeccable balance with well-matched tannins and easy approachability. Even better when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 94. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2014 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $70. Heavy bottled, embossed and signed by the winemaker. A selection of the most intensely flavored barrels. 100% Clone 777. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 39% new, and an additional 7 months in bottle before release. Bottled unfined. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. The toasty oak on the nose obscures the fruit aromas. Approachable flavors of oak-infused majestic dark fruits including black cherry with added notes of anise and black tea. Very seductive, silken mouth feel with tame tannins and a modest but pleasing finish. There is a paucity of nuance and sophistication and a bit more barrel treatment than I prefer. Score: 92. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »